THE INCORPORATORS 175 
more, March 29, 1813, was only seven years old when his mother 
died. He was tenderly cared for, however, by Rev. Adam P. 
Empie and his wife, and in gratitude to them he adopted Empie 
as his middle name. Although his brothers, after his father’s 
death, favored the idea of his becoming a civil engineer, he was 
more inclined toward teaching, and in preparation for this work 
continued his studies in botany, geology, and mineralogy. He 
added to these a medical course at the University of Pennsyl- 
vania. Though receiving a doctor’s degree in 1836, he did not 
practice medicine but turned his attention to chemistry, in which 
he had become deeply interested, and joined his brother Henry 
as chemist of the first Geological Survey of Pennsylvania. In 
March, 1842, he had the gratification of receiving an appoint- 
ment as Professor of General and Applied Chemistry in the 
University of Virginia. In conjunction with his brothers James 
and William, Dr. Rogers made many experiments, wrote numer- 
ous valuable scientific papers, and published text-books on chem- 
istry. Indeed, so intimately were the four brothers connected 
in their researches that the results were often spoken of as those 
of “the brothers Rogers.” No jealous rivalry existed among 
them. 
At the death of James, in 1852, Robert was chosen to fill his 
place as Professor of Chemistry in the University of Pennsyl- 
vania, and afterwards became dean of the medical faculty. To 
his numerous duties he added those of assistant surgeon in the 
Military Hospital, and while showing a woman the dangers 
connected with the use of a steam mangle, he was so unfortunate 
as to lose his right hand. He soon learned to use his left hand 
and his right arm with great skill in carrying on his experiments. 
In 1872 Dr. Rogers took part in an investigation concerning the 
waste of silver in the United States Mint at Philadelphia, and 
devised new methods of refining precious metals. He also pre- 
pared the plan for the refinery at the San Francisco Mint. On 
account of changes in the administration of the University of 
Pennsylvania, Dr. Rogers, after twenty-five years of service in 
that institution, withdrew from it, and accepted in 1877 the chair 
